Prison Transfer for Jesse Jackson Jr. After Stint in Solitary

Disgraced former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been transferred from a federal prison in North Carolina to a prison camp in Alabama after spending time in solitary confinement.

The 49-year-old Chicago Democrat, who was jailed last October on campaign theft charges, had recently spent at least four days in solitary after clashing with authorities.
He had been advising inmates on their prisoner rights, which had angered a specific guard, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Bureau of Prisons spokesman Ed Ross would not give a reason why Jackson, son of the civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr., was moved to the facility at the Maxwell Air force Base in Montgomery, Ala., on Friday, according to the Chicago Tribune.

However, it was revealed that after Jackson was cleared of any wrongdoing during a prison hearing, he asked for a transfer. Family members went to see him after his solitary stint and had become concerned about his health and welfare, the Sun-Times reported.

Jesse Jackson Sr. told the Tribune by phone from Japan that his son's health was improving, and that was the reason for the prison switch.

"It's a medical situation," he said.

The senior Jackson said his son, who has been treated for bipolar disorder, was in "great" spirits, and that he had last seen him a couple of weeks ago.

"He's been writing and teaching, and honoring his medical regime," said the elder Jackson, who is in Japan for peace and trade talks. "He's been very disciplined in his health-recovery regimen."

The younger Jackson, who served in Congress from 1995 until he resigned in 2012, was imprisoned for 30 months for stealing $750,000 in campaign money to pay for luxury vacations, expensive household goods, celebrity memorabilia, and a pair of elk heads.

His sister Santita Jackson said her brother is doing "so much better, and, for that, we are all grateful."

Noting that family members had been visiting him regularly, she added, "Of course, we've been seeing him through this. He's not disappeared. He is our family. We love him, and we go see him."

Jackson Jr. has also been receiving regular visits from his wife, former Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson, 50, who pleaded guilty to tax charges related to her husband's case.
She was sentenced to a year in jail, and will serve her time after her husband is released so she can care for their two children.